Caspase-8 Regulates Caspase-3 and Rb Respectively in Fas- and Actinomycin D-Mediated Apoptosis Pathway in Human Hepatoma Bel-7402 Cells

This paper aims to investigate whether caspase-8 can regulate caspase-3 and Rb expression respectively in Fas- and Actinomycin D (AD)-mediated apoptosis pathway in Human Hepatoma Bel-7402 Cells. Methods: Bel-7402 cells were treated with Fas-AD in the presence/absence of caspase-8 inhibitor Ac-IEFD-cho. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). The expressions of caspase-3 and RB were determined by Western Blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Results: Compared with the control group and the fas group, the cell apoptosis rate and the expressions of activated caspase-3 and RB increased significantly after Bel- 7402 cells were treated with Fas-AD. However, when Bel-7402 cells were treated with Fas-AD in the presence of the inhibitors of Ac-IEFD-cho, the cell apoptosis rate and the expressions of activated caspase-3 and RB decreased significantly. Conclusion: caspase-8 can regulate caspase-3 and Rb respectively in Fas- and AD-mediated apoptosis pathway in Bel- 7402 cells.